Health and Wellbeing
You can’t survive without water. It makes up nearly two-thirds of your body and is essential for you to function properly. Water has a wide range of benefits for your body – everything from removing waste products in urine to lubricating your joints. It can even make your skin look good.Sun Sense
Not only does sunshine make us feel good, but sunshine is vital for our bodies to produce Vitamin D. Did you know that Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones, teeth and muscles?
We need vitamin D to help the body absorb calcium and phosphate from our diet. These minerals are important for healthy bones, teeth and muscles. Vitamin D is also linked to blood sugar regulation. Sunshine is said to lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation. The body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors. According to the NHS, a lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain in adults.
During the spring and summer months, most people should be able to get all the vitamin D they need from sunlight. So this being said, what about the dangers of too much sun? Sun exposure has links to premature skin aging and skin cancer. Sunbeds are no safer. “Over exposure to UV light, either from sun or sunbeds is the main cause of skin cancer,” says Cancer Research UK. [Read more…] about Sun Sense
Walking Fit
Whether it is a walk in the park, or hike in the hills, enjoy the health benefits of walking and make every step count!
So, whatever the weather, get yourself and your family outdoors to enjoy our beautiful countryside. Not only is walking simple and free, it is also one of the easiest ways to get more active, lose weight (if needed) and become healthier. Walking is ideal for all age groups and all levels of fitness, what a great way to spend some healthy familytime!
According to the NHS, “Regular walking has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, stroke and some cancers.”
It is recommended by the NHS that you start slowly and try to build your walking regime gradually. To get the best health benefits from walking, it needs to be of moderate-intensity activity. In other words, it needs to be faster than a stroll.
Set yourself a goal and try to walk 10,000 steps a day, if you would like to track this and don’t have a smart watch, there are some fun apps available as a free download. [Read more…] about Walking Fit
Top Tips to Combat Hayfever Naturally
Nature can be cruel! Just when we are over the worst that Winter has to offer looking forward to the Spring sunshine, those suffering with seasonal “hayfever” allergies, are probably sighing and stocking up on their tissue supplies. Thankfully nature also provides us with, natural remedies, and natural ingredients that can provide some relief from hay-fever symptoms and help to prevent their return.
Sneezing, running nose, and itchy eyes, nose and throat can be a miserable problem for those suffering from hay-fever (allergic rhinitis) and the figures are rising, as 20% of the population are now affected by allergic rhinitis (Allergy The Unmet Need)
The chief reasons for seasonal change allergies are airborne dander, dust-mites, feathers, moulds, and pollen. The immune system of sufferers overreacts to the normally harmless particles in the air. The airborne pollens cause the body to produce antibodies, and it releases a natural substance called histamine. Histamine irritates the upper respiratory passages (nose, throat, eyes and sinus), resulting in swelling and other hay-fever symptoms.
Health Benefits of Gardening
Protect your back whilst enjoying the health benefits of pottering in your garden.
It is that time of the year that the sun is starting to shine and the surrounding countryside is full of golden daffodils, fragrant blossoms and bouncing lambs. Just the motivation needed to get ourselves outdoors and start think about our own gardening needs and jobs. [Read more…] about Health Benefits of Gardening
Autumn Harvest
Leaves are turning gold, the air is feeling crisp, and our thoughts are turning to bonfires, pumpkins and Halloween. For astronomy fans, Autumn also means it’s time for the Harvest Moon. This is the name given to the first full moon that takes place closest to the Autumn equinox. The name Harvest Moon comes from when farmers would need to start gathering in crops to prepare for the winter months. They used the bright moonlight to extend the working day. This year, it will take place on 1 October 2020
So what’s in season this Autumn?
Fruit: Apples, Blackberries, Damsons, Elderberries, Pears, Plums, Quince and Sloes
Vegetables: Beetroot, Carrot, Celeriac, Mushrooms, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Marrow, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Rocket, Sorrel, Squashes, Sweetcorn, Tomatoes and Watercress
Not only does it make economic sense to eat seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables that are more readily available, but it has health benefits too, because foods in season contain the nutrients and trace elements that our bodies need at particular times of the year. For example, butternut squash and apples are packed with vitamin C, which boosts our resistance to winter colds. [Read more…] about Autumn Harvest
